Best in the county

Trowbridge and Swindon-based Withy King solicitors, received the prestigious title of Wiltshire Business of the Year.

The awards, coordinated by Wiltshire Times publisher Newsquest Wiltshire, were presented at the Blunsdon House Hotel in Swindon.

Other businesses named at the awards included White Horse Employment in Trowbridge which received a finalist certificate.

Sutton Veny School was runner up in the training and development category.

Withy King received the business of the year award in recognition of its all-round achievement, clear vision for the future, success against objectives and sustained growth.

The award was presented to senior partner Tim Odoire by Darren James, managing director of Definitive Consulting, one of the event's sponsors.

Mr James said: "Withy King has had a hugely successful year in 2002 with increases in both turnover and staff numbers. Also, their regional presence has been significantly strengthened following the successful merger with Quiney Jaggar.

"However, perhaps most impressive of all was the company's commitment to de-mystifying the legal process for their clients, and their drive to continue to build their regional presence."

Martin Powell, managing partner of Withy King, said: "I am delighted we have been recognised for our commitment to ensuring the very best delivery of quality legal, financial and stock-broking services.

"Focusing ourselves as a professional services business, rather than as a firm of solicitors has been one of the key factors in our success."

Withy King had a successful 2002 reflected in the firm's £1m increase in turnover. A successful merger with Quiney Jaggar, and high profile work on a number of nationally recognised, landmark legal cases helped enhance its reputation.

The practice received a further boost when The Legal 500, an independent guide to the top 500 law firms in the UK, ranked Withy King as one of the leading personal injury and clinical negligence practices in the south west.

Withy King's staff have also been recognised for their excellence. Gerry Ferguson, clinical negligence lawyer, was mentioned in Chambers Legal Directory and Muiris Lyons was named as 'Lawyer of the Week' by the Times and 'Lawyer in the News' by the Law Society Gazette.

The Legal 500 named clinical negligence partners Simon Elliman and Gerry Ferguson as leading solicitors in their field, together with another partner, Graham Street, as a top lawyer in construction and property litigation.